Amazon in the spring filed its proposed development plans for its second headquarters, known as HQ2, in Arlington, Virginia, and the company projects that construction will begin early next year.
“As with our Seattle headquarters, we plan to invest in developing a new headquarters in Arlington that will grow alongside its neighbors, supporting local businesses, building new public spaces for all to enjoy, and integrating sustainable design features throughout our campus,” John Schoettler, Amazon’s vice president of global real estate and facilities, wrote in a May blog post.
Amazon intends to create 400 new jobs in Arlington in 2019 and 25,000 jobs in the next decade. Amazon has had a presence in Virginia since 2010, investing $34 billion into employee compensation and infrastructure in the commonwealth.
Plans for HQ2 are split into three phases. The first phase in Arlington’s Crystal City neighborhood represents all 2019 progress: Amazon opened its first temporary office in Crystal City in June, with plans to add more temporary office space later in the year. Phase two focuses on the Metropolitan Park area of the neighboring Pentagon City neighborhood, where construction is expected to begin in 2020 after Arlington approves Amazon’s development plans. Finally, phase three represents construction in Pen Place. Altogether, that’s nearly 4.8 million square feet of Amazon space in the city of Arlington.
Amazon had planned to split HQ2 between Virginia and New York City but backed out in February after running into vocal pushback from local New York politicians and residents.
Check out Amazon’s proposed development plans for HQ2 phase two at Metropolitan Park: